A gardening expert is showing that, with supplemental watering, raspberry and strawberry crops can still produce during intensely dry weather.
Here's what to know
No-dig gardening advocate Charles Dowding (@charles_dowding) recently shared a short video on social media to show off a late-summer harvest of what he described as Joan J raspberries alongside everbearing Mara des Bois strawberries.
The clip shows an abundance of healthy-looking fruit, even though the surrounding area is visibly parched. Dowding said continuing production amid dry weather depends on consistent hose watering.
"They are prolific in this heat, just as long as we can give enough water from the hose because, as you can see from the grass behind me, we're in a spell of very arid conditions," he said.
How is this helpful?
Home gardening continues to attract people looking to cut grocery bills, enjoy fresher produce, gain a little more control over what they eat, or even just start a hobby.
Berries are a strong example. They can be expensive at the store, highly perishable, and often taste better when picked ripe at home.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Growing food can bring other benefits as well. Gardening supports physical health through regular movement, such as planting, watering, and harvesting, while many people also find that time outdoors and hands-on work can help improve mood and reduce stress.
Even if a yard looks strained overall, productive crops may still be worth tending carefully. Brown grass does not always mean a food garden is finished for the season.
What can be done?
Starting an edible garden means focusing on resilient plants, consistent watering, and realistic expectations during hot, dry weather. Container gardens, raised beds, and smaller berry patches can all make irrigation easier to manage.
Growing your own food can help lower produce costs over time while giving you access to fresher ingredients right outside your door. Gardeners can also improve their odds by watering deeply rather than lightly, monitoring soil moisture, and choosing varieties known to keep producing over a long season.
Everbearing strawberries and certain raspberry varieties can be especially rewarding because they offer repeated harvests instead of just one short burst.
Meanwhile, growers must be mindful of any recommended or enforced water-use restrictions during periods of local drought.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
